French Wine Laws: Loire Valley and Alsace Flashcards
Review: % of NYS wine is?
75%
Review: Signature Red Varietals of Long Island
Red Bordeaux varietals
Review: Signature White Grape Varietal of Oregon?
Pinot Gris
Review: WA is located west of ___
Cascades
Who and why did INAO - Institut National des Appellations D’Origne 1935(governing body) start?
- A regulatory function started in 1935 to control certain aspects of grape growing and wine production in specific geographic areas
- INAO monitors both viticultural and vinicultural practices in the AOC region
- Started because there was wine fraud
AOC regulates the following: (3)
- Place of Origin (restricted geography)
- Grape Varieties (only specific grapes)
- Alcohol Content (minimum and maximum)
What happens when the vineyard does not follow the regulations?
AOC has the authority to declassify the wine which leads to a decrease in profits
What are the following characteristics that are regulated region by region? (3)
- Maximum yields (hectoliters per hectare)
- When harvest may begin each year
- Production methods (winemaking, chaptalization etc.)
Note: This is done region by region and the local governing body has the power to declassify a producer’s wine
What are the wine laws known as in France, Italy, Spain, and Portugal?
AOC in France
DOC in Italy
DO in Spain
DOC in Portugal
Wine laws can help establish authenticity and set certain standards but they can not guarantee quality.
What are the three/four classifications of French wine?
- Vins de France (14%)
- Vins de Pays/ Indication Geographique Protegee (31%)
- VDQs - Vins Delimites Qualite Suiperieure - removed
- Appellation d’Origine Controlee/ AOP (55%)
Vins de France
14%
- Simple ordinary wines
- No Geographic designation
- Vintage and varietal allowed
- Oak tea bags, chips, powdered tannin, etc. are OK
Vins de Pays/ Indication Geographique Protegee
31%
- Country wines produced in large geographic areas
- Made from Vinifera and Hybrids
- No varietal restrictions
- 85% of grapes come from a region
VDQs - Vins Delimites Qualite Superieure
No longer a classification –> removed and upped to AOC
Appellation d’Origine Controlee/ AOP
55%
- The top quality wines produced in specific controlled places
- Lots of regulations
Classification & Geography
Vins de Table/ France - All of France
Vins de Pays/ IGP - A section of France
AOC/AOP - A specific and proven wine region
Loire Valley leading producer for?
- France’s leading producer of white wines (red, rose, sparkling, still, dry and sweet (too))
- France’s 2nd leading AOC region for fine sparkling wines
How many AOCs are in Loire Valley?
63
Loire Valley in terms of production (acres, hectolitres, cases)
France’s 3rd largest region in terms of production with 172,973 acres, 2.8 million hectolitres, 32.2 million cases
Loire Valley White grapes (3)
- Chenin Blanc - Pineau de la Loire (cultivated in 845 AD)
- Melon de Bourgogne - Muscadet
- Sauvignon Blanc
AOC Districts in the Loire
- Pays Nantais
- Anjou
- Saumur
- Touraine
- East/Upper Loire
Loire Valley Label Regulations
- Wines named after the places where the grapes are grown (villages)
- The place dictates the grape which can
be used
e.g. Sancerre (Sauvignon Blanc) - Grape Varieties: 100% for most AOC
wines except when noted as a blend
How many appellations are in Nantes? Names? Grape?
4
Muscadet, Muscadet Des Coteaux de la Loire,
Muscadet Sèvre et Maine, and Muscadet de
Grandlieu (newest AOC- about 500 acres)
Grape - Melon de Bourgogne (Muscadet)
Muscadet - Sur Lie
The wine is left on the “fine” lees
after vinification until it is bottled.
- adds flavor
- gives the wine more texture
INAO regulations specify two dates for bottling Sur Lie:
- The 1st is between March 1
and June 30th, following the
harvest - The 2nd is between October 15 and November 30th
Muscadet Sevre et Maine AOC “Sur Lie”, Domaine du Moulin Camus, Loire Valley 2016
Sight: Pale straw
Smell: citrus, lemon, grapefruit, tart, green grammy smith apple
Taste: acidic, creaminess
GV: Muscadet
great w/ oysters
Cost: $14
Melon de Bourgogne/ Muscadet Grape
Grown virtually nowhere else – produces wines of penetrating minerality and acidity, with fresh, clean, citrus flavors
Domaine Du Moulin Camus
35 year old vines
100% Muscadet
What is Muscadet’s appeal?
Delicacy and steely vigor
What food pairing recommendations goes well with Muscadet
Many seafood dishes
Light poultry preparations
pasta dishes
Loire Valley’s History
- The medieval knights build fortresses
- The kings of the 15th & 16th centuries
built pleasure castles - The nobility of the 17th & 18th centuries built elegant châteaux
What to know about Loire Valley tourism?
- The Loire Valley in west central France covers 350 scenic miles east to west. - Endless variety of food: fresh fish, shellfish, some of the best cheese, meats, and game - Very good white wines and decent reds.
AOC Districts in the Upper Loire (Eastern)
Upper Loire (Eastern)
- Sancerre
- Pouilly-Fume
- Reuilly
- Quincy
Grapes - Sauvignon Blanc & Pinor Noir
Sancerre (wines, export)
80% White and 20% Rose/Red
40% Exported
Sauvignon Blanc Sancerre AOC, Chateau de Sancerre, Loire Valley 2015
Sight: pale straw color with water rim
Smell: bell pepper, herbaceous, underripe citrus
Taste: Acidic, Bell pepper, grassy
GV: Sauvignon Blanc
Cost: $27
Paired: Seared scallop
Sauvignon Blanc in Cool colimates
- Grassy
- Herbaceous
- Vegetal- bell pepper
- Green olive
- Gun metal pow
- Grapefruit
- Gooseberry
Chateau De Sancerre
- only castle in Sancerre
- Winery founded in 1919 by Louis- Alexandre Marnier Lapostolle
- 100% Sauvignon Blanc
- Stainless steel fermentation
- On fermentation lees for a minimum of 6
Food matches with Sauvignon Blanc
- Seafood
- Grilled light fish
- Goat Cheese
Label terms
- Vielles Vignes old vines - no legal definition
Production statements:
Mis en bouteille a la propriete
Mis en bouteille au Domaine
Mis en bouteille par
Sparkling wines from the Loire
- Made by the Methode Traditionnelle just like Champagne but with local grapes ( Chenin Blanc and Cabernet Franc)
- Cremant de Loire
- Saumur Brut
- Montlouis sur Loire
- Anjou Mousseux, Touraine Mousseux
- Vouvray
Only in the Loire Valley of France, does ____ show its glorious potential
Chenin Blanc
Styles of Chenin Blanc (4)
- Sec - dry
- Demi sec/Tendre - off dry (slightly sweet)
- Moelleux - semi sweet
- Doux (liquoreux) - sweet
Anjou: Dry wines
- Savennieres
- Saumur
Grapes - Chenin Blanc
Popular wines in Savennieres
- Chenin Blanc
- Acreage 358
- Has two sub-appellations:
Roche-aux-Moines & Coulée-de-Serrant - Pre-dominantly dry with some off-dry and sparkling allowed
Popular wines in Anjou: Sweet wines
- Coteaux du Layon ($45 -$65 500ml)
- Bonnezeaux
- Quarts de Chaume (Grand Cru 2011)
Grapes - Chenin Blanc
Popular wines in Touraine
- Chinon – Cabernet Franc
- Bourgueil– Cabernet Franc
- Cheverny – Sauvignon Blanc
- Vouvray – Chenin Blanc
Popular wines in Vouvray:
- White and sparkling
- Chenin Blanc
- Dry, off-dry, and sweet
- Top soil of siliceous-clay and limestone
clay over tuffeau
Chenin Blanc Vouvray AOC “Classic” Marc Bredif, Loire Valley 2015
Sight: Pale straw
Smell: Honeydew melon, honey
Taste: honey, a bit more fruity, blossomed in mouth, tropic
GV: Chenin Blanc
Cost: $20
Marc Bredif
- Hand harvested
- Pneumatic pressed
- Free run juice
- Fermented over 2 months
- 9 months on lees
Chenin Blanc Varietal Characteristics
Fruity, Melon, Peach, Apple, Citrus
Late Harvest Chenin Blanc:
Honey, tropical fruits, apricot, quince, orange and lemon zest
Loire Valley Red Grapes
- Cabernet Franc
- Grolleau
- Gamay Noir a Jus Blanc
- Pinot Noir
Rose - Methods of Production
- Maceration
- Bleeding/ Saignee
- White + Red
Alsace has a wide range of __ grape varieties. What status do they have?
- A wide range of white grape varieties (90%
white) - Varietal wines, all with AOC status
- Fresh, fruit-driven, aromatic, and non-oaked wines
Alsace has how many AOCs?
3
When did viticulture begin in Alsace?
Viticulture began with the arrival of Caesar in 58 BC
15th century Alsace
Exported over 1,000,000 hectoliters of wines a year
What rule were Alsace wines under?
While under German rule, Alsace wines were blended with German wines
Today, what is Alsace production?
Today it produces 18% of all AOC white wines in France
Why is Alsace a great place to visit?
- Fortresses on the hilltops of the Vosges
- Sleepy little villages, the same as they were constructed in the Middle Ages
- Regional food specialities you will love
White grape varieties break down in Alsace
90%
Riesling - 21.8% Gewurztraiminer 19.6% Pinot Blanc 21.3% Sylvaner 6.8% Pinot Gris 15.4% Muscat 2.3%
Red grape varieties break down
10%
- Pinot Noir
What is Alsace rainfall?
Lowest in France; less than 20 inches per year
Alsace growing season
50 days longer than Germany - this long hang time produces very aromatic wines
- Approved yields - highest in France
- 80 hl/ha (5+ tons/acre)
Alsace soil types
Limestone/Sand; Clay/Marlstone;
Flint/Schist/Shale/Slate
AOC status
Appellation Alsace Controlee -71.5%
AOC yields of 80 hl/ha (5 tons/acre)
Appellation Cremant d’Alsace 24.6%
These sparkling wines made with local grape varieties
Alsace Grand Cru 1975/1983 3.9% of production
Alsace Grand Cru
- only 3.9% of total production
(yields restricted to 4 tons/acre) Some - top producers limit yields to less than 2 tons/acre
- 51 vineyards have been granted Grand Cru status
- Only Riesling, Pinot Gris, Muscat and Gewurztraminer qualify for Grand Cru
RIESLING: Varietal Characteristics
Fruity, apricot, peach, green
apples, floral, lemon, tropical lushness
Riesling Herrenreben
- Once belonged to nobleman Ribeaupierre
- 1.5 hectares (3.75 acres)
- 40 year old vines
- 4,000 bottles produced
What are Alsace Blended Wines?
- Gentil - Minimum 50% Riesling,
Muscat, Pinot Gris, and/or
Gewürztraminer - Edelzwicker: a blend of white grapes of AOC Alsace without any indication of
percentage
Pinot Gris “Les Princes Abbes”, Domaines Schlumberger, Alsace AOC 2014
Sight: more golden in color
Smell: honey, grass, melon –> ripe honeydrew
Taste: ripeness, medium dry
GV: Pinot Gris
Cost: $20
Pair: fish, chicken, pork
Pinot Gris Varietal Characteristics
Mango, melon, apple, pear, honey
Domaine Schlumberger
- Growers since 1610
- Estate acquired from
the monks “The Princes Abbés” after the French Revolution - Brother and sister team now
manage the estate
Controlled Alsace label terms
Varietal Label - 100% of the grape named
Vendanges Tardives - late harvest but often fermented dry
Selection de Grains Nobles - Botrytis Cinerea affected grapes ($50-$150 half bottle)
Non-controlled label terms
- Reserve
- Personnelle
- Cuvee
- Special
Gewürztraminer Domaine Zind Humbrecht, Alsace AOC 2015
Sight: similar to Pinot Gri, pale golden hue
Smell: roses –> more aromatic than the ones in Finger Lakes, lychee
Taste: sweet, ginger
GV: Gewürztraminer
Gewürztraminer: Characteristic Varietal
Rich aromas of flowers, spices and exotic fruits rose, acacia, peppermint, clove, cinnamon, ginger
- Grapefruit, litchi, mango, pineapple, pear, quince, honeysuckle
- Full-bodied, well-structured and powerful
- High alcohol, low acidity - sometimes produced slightly sweet
Domaine Zind Humbrecht Gewürztraminer
Continuous winemaking lineage since 1620
- 2002, Certified organic and biodynamic
- Own 100 acres, including 4 Grand Cru vineyards
The Wine:
- 100% Gewürztraminer
- 8 months in 40 year-old French barrels
Oliver Humbrecht
- Winemaker at Family’s estate since 1969
- President of Syndicat International des Vignerons en Culture Bio-Dynamique/Biodyvin (SIVCBD) since 2002
- President of the Alsace Grand Cru Association since 2011
